The American Academy of Pediatrics and NHTSA have published car seat recommendations. The recommendations state that children should remain rear-facing until at least age 2, but preferably until they are too tall or too heavy for their convertible car seat's height or weight limit. Children should then remain in a forward-facing 5-point harness car seat until they exceed its height or weight limit. Then children should remain in a booster until they can pass the 5-Step test (See Below). The bottom line: Don't rush to "graduate" your child to the next type of car seat (unless he is too heavy or too tall for his current seat), as this is a demotion in safety.

Annually, the Grand Rapids Police Department gives out free convertible car seats for those who meet the guidelines provided through the Itasca County WIC program.

Car seat installations and inspections are available to Grand Rapids residents and employees of Grand Rapids businesses. Please contact Grand Rapids Community Service Officer Carl Fischer at 218-326-3464 to request an appointment

The 5-Step Test:

Put your child in the car and have her sit like an adult, without a booster. Buckle the seat belt over her. Now answer these questions:

Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you can answer "yes" to every question, your child is okay to ride without a booster. If you answer "no" to any of these questions, your child still needs a booster in order to be safe.

It's In Minnesota's Nature

For those seeking the ideal balance of community and wilderness
Grand Rapids and Itasca County are in the middle of the Minnesota north woods
where the nature of the community reflects and complements the splendor and strength of the outdoors
so priorities are in their natural order and perspective remains fresh.